Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #projectconnect
Most recents (9)
I'm just going to say one more thing about the #ProjectConnect situation until there are any more developments:
If you were an Austin progressive excited for rail, but you also cheered the death of Manchin's permitting reform bill: congratulations, you got what you asked for.
If you were an Austin progressive excited for rail, but you also cheered the death of Manchin's permitting reform bill: congratulations, you got what you asked for.
Yes, Austin officials are uniquely inept with money on transit projects a way many cities aren't, but the fact is: one reason the light rail plan got reduced is it depended on federal grants, and those grants now require local govts to set aside 40% of funding for contingencies.
And the main kind of "contingency" that made the federal government decide to impose this huge budget constraint? Frivolous local permitting lawsuits. The kind of crap Manchin's bill was intended to address.
Of the five initial operating segment proposals for Austin's light rail system, @CapMetroATX should definitely choose the one that keeps an underground segment downtown.
It's the clear best option from a long-term planning perspective.
It's the clear best option from a long-term planning perspective.
Yes, it's not the option with the most coverage upfront, and yes, it'll suck the line won't initially go to the airport. But it makes more sense to start with expensive infrastructure that gives the trunk room for capacity, rather than go for length first and risk bottlenecks.
We don't want Austin to make the same mistake as Dallas.
DART has a big chokepoint downtown where a bunch of lines converge on an at-grade segment, and they're only now trying to plan out an underground segment to ease that pressure.
DART has a big chokepoint downtown where a bunch of lines converge on an at-grade segment, and they're only now trying to plan out an underground segment to ease that pressure.
𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑻 5 𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑺 𝑻𝑯𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫: How a Wealthy Billionaire is influencing local politics playing shell games in collaboration with elected officials in @austintexasgov 
The other day we learned a majority of our city council members are part of the @leadershipatx club before getting elected.
But that is not the only thing that connects them.
But that is not the only thing that connects them.
@YStrategyUnited (Y Strategy) has helped several of the anti-police progressive candidates get elected.
It is run by #MykleTomlinson
Mykle has worked w/ Mark Yznaga & Mark Littlefield on several PAC Campaigns.
Mr. Yznaga is married to @AnnKitchenATX
It is run by #MykleTomlinson
Mykle has worked w/ Mark Yznaga & Mark Littlefield on several PAC Campaigns.
Mr. Yznaga is married to @AnnKitchenATX
Thank you and farewell @CapMetroATX & #ATX. Serving as CM CEO has been an honor and privilege & I’m so proud of what we accomplished together. We have collaboratively advanced an innovative, sustainable & equitable agenda that will positively transform this community forever. 1/3
As I begin my time at @wmata, I invite everyone to refollow the @CapMetroCEO account and stay current on the great work that Dottie Watkins & the @CapMetroATX team will continue to do connecting #ATX & moving #ProjectConnect forward. 2/3
1/ So the #StatesmanEndorsements have been coming fast and furious over the past week, and I’m just now catching my breath. Let me catch you up on the @statesman editorial board’s picks on the Nov. 3 ballot. THREAD--->
2/ Perhaps the biggest news is @statesman ed board endorsed Prop A #ProjectConnect. Why?
The typical Austin commuter:
⏳ Wasted 66 hours in congested traffic in 2017
💸 Lost $1,391 in time and fuel
😫 Regularly cites transportation woes as a top concern
statesman.com/opinion/202010…
The typical Austin commuter:
⏳ Wasted 66 hours in congested traffic in 2017
💸 Lost $1,391 in time and fuel
😫 Regularly cites transportation woes as a top concern
statesman.com/opinion/202010…
3/ But we urge Austin voters to reject Austin’s Prop B. In the Austin City Council’s scramble to put this whopping $460 million sidewalks-and-trails package on the November ballot, the public never got a seat at the table:
statesman.com/opinion/202010…
statesman.com/opinion/202010…
#ATXSOTC thread:
So here we are now, confronting challenges unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Where do we begin? In times of such great uncertainty, what should be our guiding light? I think we begin with -- and look to -- “justice.”
So here we are now, confronting challenges unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Where do we begin? In times of such great uncertainty, what should be our guiding light? I think we begin with -- and look to -- “justice.”
We all want the local economy--and our lives--back as we knew them. #ATXSOTC
We tried to open businesses as they had operated pre-virus... as if the virus was gone. Leaders at the national and state levels gave destructive or ambiguous messages about what we needed to do to prevent a surge. And so the virus came roaring back. #ATXSOTC
I’m excited about moving Project Connect forward with both an initial and smaller overall impact to Austin property taxpayers. It’s the right decision to lower taxpayer cost while still pursuing the entire #ProjectConnect rapid transit system. 1/5
At the 8.5 cents level, we will leverage future matching funds from federal, state, regional, and private sources. Combined with @CapMetroATX's ongoing financial commitment, this will still enable our community to build, operate, and maintain the entire proposed system. 2/5
We’ve already had success leveraging our local transportation funds to draw down other funding sources, an example being the 2016 Mobility Bond Program. 3/5
This is **so** not my normal scene but I'm at this @AustinChamber event on transportation. I usually struggle to live tweet but will try. Hoping to hear good news re: #ProjectConnect
There are a lot of speakers.
Chamber board chair: our biggest challenge is I-35. We need a safe, reliable I-35 that keeps people and commerce moving. This means we need 2 variable, tolled, managed lanes each direction.
Pretty cool the #ProjectConnect Ambassador Network meetings are archived online now. Here's last week's. capmetrotx.iqm2.com/Citizens/Split…
I've been trying and failing to write a longform piece about my feelings on #ProjectConnect so maybe I'll just make a few tweets here.... 2/?
1. It's so exciting that everyone agrees we must give transit dedicated pathways. Advocates need to support this idea, full stop. Even if it means cutting a "through lane" here or there.
